Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-01-14
THE END or A FAMOUS CASE.

which is appointed to end this morning
BY the execution Of the chief actor IN IL.
1t has been matter Of discussion at every
home in the State where journals are
read, On the railroad trains, IN business
houses, in short every where. Its wen mas
been tracked by thousands of ingenious
minds to differen5 conclusions; IL has
made of citizens, lawyers; OF lawyers
judges, and of the Commonwealth a oe-
batting society. In comparatively IL"
cases have tie debaters had the advantage
of having perused presentation OF tne
whole case at one time; many nave hao W
rely on their memory OF the reports as
published from day to day, and many
more have just made up their minds from
fragmentary evidence and comments
without having read the case at all. l5
was in such condition of the pubic
mind that the Governor found himself
suddenly placed in the painful POSITION OF
judge, combined with that of humane
man. 1t is proper to say that whatever
difference of opinion there may be about
his conclusions, there is general APPROX
al of the common sense mode in which he
discharged the duty of the trying posi-
ton. He could not change the Judgement
of the court unless upon new facts, and
he set about finding them. The only fact
not thoroughly sifted by the courts was
the identity OF the key. He sent for it
and had it opened. The opening closed
the last hope of escape for the condemned.
just as the opening wo uld have opened a
field for doubt if the matchmaker had
failed to Identify his work. The Governor
has had the sympathy Of all thinking men
in his trying position, and his earnest eff
forts Co arrive at the truth have eomman-
ded their approval as well.
At this writing no expression of opinion
as TO the guilt or Innocence of the prisoner
can possibly, at this distance, affect him
for good or evil, a fact that enables those
in the line of whose duty it falls to COM
ment On his case, 70 speak with more free
dom. In the light of the evidence for the
prosecution, the evidence for the defense,
and the statement made to the Governor by
the prisoner himself, the theory that Lii
liam Madison was not murdered and that
CluveTius was not her murderer falls to
the ground. The theory OF suicide breaks
down under her scattered wearing apparel
and the fact that her hat, found hidden in
the vacant smallpox hospital, three hun
dred yards away. had in its lining some
of the sand similar to that found on the
reservoir bank. That the hat was put
there by another hand than that of the
woman. and after she was dead. is certain.
That Cluverius was her murderer, is
deed, fix it on him. as much as anything
else. La the face of witnesses who posi-
lively Identify him as having been with
the murdered girl on March 18th, at vari-
Gus times and places; in the face of the
fact that her last note was written to 1T.
J. Cluverius." saying, Il will b. there in
a moment, so do walt; in the face of the
fact that when she left Bath she said he
had written her ard would meet her in
Richmond; in the face Of the fact that
though he told the officers when arrested
that he would account fer himself all the
the time he was in Richmond and prove
where he had been, and when put to the
test fails in all-he denies having seen the
murdered woman during either visit
on January 9th or March 18th. A
great deal of stress has been laid on the
prisoners calm demeanOr. 1t has been
that calmness which characteriZes the card
gambler who is puZzling his adversary
about what cards he holds. The prisoner
has had none of the Indignation or natural
manner Of an innocent man but has main
tanned the imperturbabe GOODNESS. wary
conversation, and Watchful demeanOr of a
criminal sufficiently acquainted with the
law to weigh the effect in its sight, of
every word he utteTs. He has III 20 sense
carried himself as d men unju5tly accused.
Writing Of this famous case nearly Two
years ago, when the verdict was first rem
deTed, VIZ said that the accused would
tell The whole story under the shadow of
the scaffold. We still think SO, but not
with the same certainty we did then.
Since that was written, his mind has been
so distracted from his grave situation and
so confused by expressions Of behef in his
innocence from persons and presses of
prominence, many of whom have never
read the evidence in connected form, as
we give it elsewhere to-day, that the idea
of pardon on the scaffoid may have SO taken
possession of his soul that he may fear to
make confident even Of his clergyman.
His confession, however, save as crafty
ing morbidly aroused public curiosity,
is Of no Importance as affecting the case
itself, for when he shall have been execut-
ed the plotter and executor of the
most cold bIooded and craftiest murder
ever committed on the soil OF Virginia
will ba We suffered for his deed.
The faith of the Southern colored man
in the Republican party is Of a toughness
that defies all political wind and weather.
Grover Cleveland was elected President
Of the United States, and among his first
acts was to appoint James G. Mathews,
coored Democrat, TO the $40. GOO office of
Recorder Of Deeds for the District of
Columbia. His character was good, his
standing as citizen high, and his inteIli-
gence unquestioned. The Republic Senate
RI ted him, while 1t confirmed other
rats who the President appointed,
skins were white. The Presi-
dent continued him in office, notwith-
standing his rejection by the Senate. and
this winter when that body reassembled
sent his name in again for confirmation
and with il message in which he said :
am Informed that his management of this